Improvement in gate-latches



1. PETERMAN.

Gate-Latch, NO 1681525. Patented0ct.5,l875.

Ewen-601.

V V'itnesses:

N. PETERS PHOTO-LIYHUGHAPHER. WASHINGTON. u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JACOB PETERMAN, OF SHORT GREEK, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN GATE-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 68,525., datedOctober 5, 1875; application filed September 7, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB PETERMAN, of Short Creek, in the county ofHarrison and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Gate andDoorLatches; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in gate and doorlatches; andconsists in a flanged casing, in which is pivoted the latch, the wholebeing constructed so that it can be reversed and used on a gate or dooropening either to the right or left, and that will catch and hold thegate or door when closed rapidly.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a gate with my device attached.Fig. 2 is the casing and latch complete; and Figs. 3, 4, and 5are'detail views.

a is the casing, formed of the two side plates a a and end pieces a soas to provide acentral opening or slot for the reception of the latch.The inner plate a is provided with the flange a, turned at a rightangle, to fit over the corner of the post to which the device may besecured. It is held to the post by retaining-screws passing through theholes a a b are holes for inserting a screw, 1), which forms the axis onwhich the latch turns. The screw is insertedin one or the other'of theseholes, as may be required, in applying the device to a gate openingeither to the right or left. 0 is the latch, which has its inner end 0made in usual form, to facilitate its operation, and theoutward-projecting arm 0 by which it can be raised from the outside ofthe house or inclosure. It is provided with the under arm 0 forming thenotch 0 the hole 0 being for the passage of the axis or screw b, onwhich it turns. 01 is a projecting finger attached to the lower end ofthe arm 0 It is so arranged that when the latch is down it will lieinthe groove formed'by the plates a a, and flush with their inner edges,and so'that when the latch is raised it will extend outwardfrom thecasing, and receive the blow of the bar 6 on the gate as the lattercloses.

In the act of closing the gate, the bar (1 presses against the curvedunder edge of the end 0 of the latch c, and raises the latter, so thatthe gate closes, with the bar resting against the flange a when thelatch drops, and the notch receives the bar and holds the gate.

With an ordinary latch, the gate, when thrown violently to, by wind orother cause, will bound back before the latch can drop over the bar 0;but with my device, the latch is instantly forced down, so as to catchthe bar by reason of the latters striking the finger d.

The. latch may be reversed in the casing by removing the axis b, andturning it so as to put the axis in the other of the holes 1).

Having described my invention, what I claim is- The combination of thecasing a, composed of the plate a having the flange a, and plate ahaving holes b, and the latch c, constructed as described, and allarranged to be reversible, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein. presence of two witnesses.

J AGOB PETERMAN.

Witnesses GEORGE FURBAY, GEORGE ADAMS.

